July 2016

ARCADIAN PLACE

Residents Newsletter

Dear residents

This newsletter is part of the improved communications which was agreed at the residents meeting in April 2016. Chair of the meeting, Paul Willatts, called for more volunteers to support Arcadian Place Management company (APMC).

Five additional residents have come forward to become Directors and to help with the managing of our estates. Meetings have been held in May, June, and August and this Newsletter is the first to update you on matters being addressed. This dedicated Website is also being developed for Residents.

Party. Please support the party being held in the courtyard on Sunday 4^th September 2016. Starting at 2.30pm in the afternoon. See the flyer that has been delivered to you.

Door to Door Data Collection / Residents’ contact list and interaction. We endeavour to collect updated data on the residents of AP as communication to date is through the management company and owners. We will be calling on each resident to update data.

Managing Agents. Grace Miller is the managing agent for Arcadian Place. Our property manager Mary O’Donnell will be leaving early in August. Her replacement is Eszter Varszegi and we look forward to meeting and working with her in the future. The contact number for Grace Miller is: 020 8605 1200.

Financial Sinking Fund. APMC set up a sinking fund soon after Arcadian Place was built. It is in place to pay for more expensive works and repairs. As the estate ages the repairs will need to be ongoing to prevent further structural damage or fabric depreciation. In addition there will continue to be the maintenance of fittings and equipment. The Directors are in the process of setting up a long term plan which should ensure that provision is made for the future and which avoids the need for sharp “Spikes in management charges.

Decoration. The communal parts of the main apartment building are presently being decorated. This work is funded soley by the residents within the apartment building.

Bins Store: The bins store has been a problem for some time but we are seeing improvements. The issues are:

1. General cleanliness. There has been a marked improvement in cleanliness. Please help maintain a clean bin store by putting all your rubbish in the appropriate bins. Leaving rubbish sacks or other household waste outside or on the floor of the bin store is anti-social and encourages vermin. Larger discarded items like furniture and electrical appliances should be taken to the Wandsworth Council Waste Facility at Smuggler’s Way.
2. Swap or general bin for a recycling bin. The recycling bins are frequently over full but the general bins usually have space. It has been decided to replace a general bin with an additional recycling bin. All residents are requested to break cardboard boxes down so they take up the minimal space possible.
3. Salt Bin: Salt stored in corner is now being stored in a bin.
4. Signs for the tip in Smuggler’s Way, Wandsworth will be placed in the bin store of you can visit: http://wandsworth.gov.uk/ for details of the tip’s location and what they accept.
5. Artemis Place. Some residents of Artemis Place use our bin store but currently make no contribution to its cleaning / maintenance. APMC are in contact with their managing agents, L & Q to see how costs can be shared.

Water Pumps: The three water pumps housed in the underground car park were either broken or behaving erratically. Thee provide the water pressure to the main apartment building. The Directors recently approved their repair and all pumps are now running perfectly.

Street Signs and Notices and Parking: Please could residents NOT tamper with the signs around Arcadian Place. The “No Ball Games” sign is there to protect cars and prevent injury to pedestrians. Please respect the “No Parking” signs and only leave a car for a maximum of 10 minutes when picking up, setting down or loading.

Gardens: We believe the gardeners, that are on site each Tuesday, are doing a good job maintaining the communal gardens. If you have any concerns or suggestions, please leave a note at 33 Arcadian.

Lighting – Arcadian Main drive/pathway. The lighting along the Avenue houses on the main drive/footpath were changed a few years ago. It was raised at the April meeting that there is a concern that the lights are not bright enough. This will be on the “to do” list and communicated to tenants via newsletter as the sub committees review options and cost.

Window cleaners. As part of the maintenance service, the apartments have cleaners who come to do the external windows. Some residents in the houses did enquire at the April meeting for any contact details on who offers the service to contact directly. On this web site, we will be sharing any contacts for services or references and will have a notice board for anyone looking for cleaners, newspaper delivery, dog walkers or properties for rent or sale.

Wandsworth Councillor: To keep up to date on the local area, you may wish to note that Malcolm Grimston at malcolmgrimston@btconnect.com provides a very useful and detailed newsletter on developments in the area. We would encourage you to read it.

Saint Cecilia’s School. Our neighbours are currently on summer holidays. The Autumn Term dates are 5^th September – 21st December with half term 24-28 October.

If you have any suggestions for the newsletter or website, please send us an email at

arcadian.place.management@gmail.com or use the Contact us page

Warm regards

Arcadian Place Residents Directors